Who lives at Rashtrapati Bhavan? Rashtrapati Bhavan is the official residence of the President of India. Whom was it originally built for? It was originally built for the British Viceroy who needed a place to stay when the capital of the Raj was shifted from Kolkata to Delhi. However, the construction dragged on for several years and the viceroy could move into it only in 1992. Who were the architects? Edwin Lutyens and Herbert Baker. It was built at a cost of 14 million rupees. How many rooms does Rashtrapati Bhavan have? There are 340 rooms spread over four floors. Besides the Durbar, Council and Ashoka Halls, it houses a library, printing press, art gallery, theatre and a Hall of Gifts (Toshkhana). The President lives in a set of rooms formerly used by the Vicereine’s lady-in-waiting. Why are the vast gardens of Rashtrapati Bhavan known as the Mughal Gardens? The gardens were not built in the Mughal period but are laid out in Mughal style with numerous terraces, fountains and canals. Hence the name. The gardens are thrown open to the public in February-March, every year.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR Kamalesh Deka
Shri Kamalesh Deka is presently holding dual charge of Director Police Telecommunication, MHA and IG(C) BSF. He is an M.E. in Electronics from Birla Institute of Technologies and Science, Pilani, Rajasthan. Prior to his present assignment, Shri Deka served for 25 years in Assam Police Radio Organisation and was also its Director from 1988 till 1995. During his long association with Assam Police he was instrumental in modernization of the Police Communication Network in the state in the most economic manner. After taking over as Director Police Telecommunication, DCPW, Shri Deka has brought sea-change in the development of Police Telecommunication in the country in general and in DCPW in particular. Keeping in view the revolution in the communication field resulting in availability of modern radio equipments, Shri Deka got the Q.R.S. of the Radio sets reviewed and revised on the basis of the latest requirement of the Police force ensuring availability of best equipment to police. He is also working hard for introduction of a Satellite based Police Telecommunication Network (POLNET) for providing direct Thana to Thana connectivity. Shri Deka represented the country in the International Conference of Police Telecommunication officers held at Lyons in September, 1996 and also led an expert team to visit USA for onsite functional and critical analysis to Radio Trunking Systems. Shri Deka also attended the global exhibition of telecom products and International Seminar on telecommunication Technologies held in Singapore from 9-14 June 1997 under the banner of Asia Telecom-97 organised by the International Telecom Union. Shri Deka had been to Johannesburg, South Africa where he attended the “4th International Africa Telecom Exhibition and Forum, 1998â€, from 4-9 May, 1998. He was awarded Police Medal for Meritorious Services on the occasion of Republic Day 1990 and President’s Police Medal for Distinguished Services on the occasion of Independence Day, 1999.
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